What is a Superbug?

A superbug is a microbe that has become resistant to disinfectants and drugs. A bacterium turns “super” when the infections it causes can no longer be treated with the same antibiotics that used to be effective against it. In other words, the bacterium has developed “resistance” to those antibiotics.

What is Resistance?

Resistance is the ability of pathogenic microorganisms to evade chemical agents employed to kill them. Such chemical agents could be drugs such as antibiotics or compounds used for chemical disinfection and sanitization.

How Do Microbes Develop Resistance?

Microbes are living organisms and like any living being they have the ability to learn to survive in adverse conditions. In other words, they can evolve. Biological evolution is dependent upon genetic changes and natural selection of favorable mutations. So, when we are excited about a drug or chemical agent that it can eradicate a particular pathogen (disease-causing microorganism) and resort to using that drug or chemical agent as much as possible, the microorganism starts mutating to survive. Once it gets the right mutations to protect itself, it keeps them and is no longer treatable with that drug. We then say that it has become resistant.

Let’s look at one example of how that can happen: Penicillin is a well-known antibiotic. It was one of the first antibiotics to be discovered and it revolutionized the treatment of infectious diseases. In its molecular structure, penicillin has an organic ring form called a beta-lactam ring. An enzyme called beta-lactamase can break this ring and disrupt its function. While penicillin has been so effective and widely-used for so many bacterial infections, some bacteria have learned (through mutations) to produce beta-lactamase against it. Bacteria that can produce beta-lactamase cannot be treated with penicillin and are resistant to it.

A Classic Example of a Superbug: MRSA, and Scientists vs. Superbugs

Staphylococcus aureus is the name of a commonly occurring bacterial species. Staphylococcus aureus can be present normally on our skin or inside our nostrils. Virulent strains of Staphylococcus aureus can cause infections of the skin and respiratory tract. In the past, staphylococcal infections were generally responsive to treatment with penicillin. This was until some strains started producing beta-lactamase which made them harder to eliminate. Scientists responded by adding certain compounds to antibiotics that inhibited the lactamase, thus restoring the efficacy of the antibiotics. This worked for some time but then Staphylococcus countered with more mutations so that it was able to survive the modified drugs. Scientists came up with a powerful antibiotic, methicillin. Methicillin proved too strong for staphylococcus, at least initially, and along with related compounds was used extensively to treat staphylococcal infections that were not responding to other agents. However, and much to the scientists’ dismay, Staphylococcus mutated, adapted, and evolved again. Staphylococcal strains that are resistant to methicillin are a classic example of superbugs. They are resistant to multiple antibiotics and can cause serious infections that are particularly difficult to manage. Such strains are referred to as MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus).

MRSA is Scared of Chlorine Dioxide

The superbug MRSA presents a formidable challenge. It mostly lurks in hospital settings but can also be acquired from community places such as schools, gyms, dormitories, and nursing homes. Its multidrug-resistant nature makes it a fearsome pathogen. A great way to eradicate MRSA is using chlorine dioxide as a disinfectant. Despite its superbug status, MRSA is not resistant to chlorine dioxide. In fact, it is highly susceptible to it and, what’s more, it cannot develop resistance against it. This is because chlorine dioxide kills pathogens through a mechanism called oxidation. Most microbes, including MRSA, just don’t have the cellular mechanisms to survive an oxidative attack.

PERFORMACIDE® is a patented, point-of-use, ClO2 generator pouch system. When the generator pouch is immersed in water (like a tea bag), it creates a concentrated ClO2 solution which has passed all EPA requirements for use as a Disinfectant, Sanitizer, Tuberculocide, Virucide*, Fungicide, Algaecide, Slimicide, and Deodorizer.

Formulated for hospital use, PERFORMACIDE® ClO2 is a powerful disinfectant but does not leave harmful residues. PERFORMACIDE® can be sprayed, mopped, or sponged and allowed to air dry, so there is no risk of spreading microorganisms to other surfaces. Unlike ordinary bleach dilutions which only last 24 hours, PERFORMACIDE®’s activated solution remains effective for 15 days when properly stored.

What is Avian Flu?

Avian flu is also known as avian influenza and bird flu. It is a viral illness caused by subtypes of the influenza A virus. As the name indicates, it is primarily a disease of birds. However, some strains of the bird virus can infect humans as well, sometimes leading to serious illness. The natural reservoir for avian flu virus is wild aquatic birds such as ducks and geese. In these, the virus causes a mild seasonal illness that is rarely fatal. It’s when the virus is transmitted to domestic fowls such as chicken and turkey that it can become deadly. Some strains of avian flu can kill more than 90% of infected birds in a matter of days.

What is its Mode of Spread?

The avian flu virus is present in the saliva, nasal secretions, and feces of infected birds. It will spread rapidly within a flock of poultry fowl. It will also spread to persons who are in close contact with such birds, such as workers and handlers. Transmission from person to person is possible though unusual. You cannot get the virus from eating properly cooked chicken.

How can we Prevent Avian Flu?

Preventing avian flu requires multiple measures. Sources of infection have to be eliminated and modes of transmission have to be checked. Sometimes, entire flocks of poultry birds have to be culled. Workers and handlers are required to wear personal protective equipment such as gloves, gowns, and face masks. Patients suspected to have contracted the virus are isolated from others. They are treated with certain antiviral medications. One such drug is oseltamivir. Oseltamivir is also recommended for people who have been in close contact with sick birds even though they haven’t developed any symptoms yet.

How does Chlorine Dioxide get rid of Avian Flu?

The CDC provides a number of guidelines for the control of avian influenza in healthcare settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics. One of the recommendations is proper cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces. In the following lines, we want to explain to our audience why we believe chlorine dioxide is the best disinfectant for environmental surfaces, and therefore, an effective means of getting rid of avian flu.

Avian flu is viral in origin. So, for a disinfectant to be effective against it, it should be a virucide. A virucide is a chemical agent that can kill viruses. Chlorine dioxide is a potent virucide. It is effective against a range of viruses including influenza A virus which is the cause of avian flu. Cleaning and disinfecting environmental surfaces in healthcare settings with chlorine dioxide ensures protection against this viral illness.

In addition to healthcare settings, its potent virucidal action makes chlorine dioxide a great choice for use as a surface disinfectant at poultry farms and egg ranches. Whether you are related to chicken or turkey farming, you must be well aware of the devastation that certain strains of bird flu can cause.

Entire flocks may die in days or need to be culled if found to be infected. For businesses based around poultry, this can translate to financial disaster. Keeping your farms and ranches clean and disinfected with chlorine dioxide can protect you, your workers, and your fowl from avian flu. It can also save you from a costly outbreak.

Our specially designed chlorine dioxide delivery systems ensure protection and convenience. PERFORMACIDE® enables you to generate instant chlorine dioxide wherever you want it. The sachets are portable and easy to use. All you need to do is add water. What you will get is a chlorine dioxide solution that is an effective virucide.

PERFORMACIDE® is a patented, point-of-use, ClO2 generator pouch system. When the generator pouch is immersed in water (like a tea bag), it creates a concentrated ClO2 solution which has passed all EPA requirements for use as a Disinfectant, Sanitizer, Tuberculocide, Virucide*, Fungicide, Algaecide, Slimicide, and Deodorizer.

Formulated for hospital use, PERFORMACIDE® ClO2 is a powerful disinfectant but does not leave harmful residues. PERFORMACIDE® can be sprayed, mopped, or sponged and allowed to air dry, so there is no risk of spreading microorganisms to other surfaces. Unlike ordinary bleach dilutions which only last 24 hours, PERFORMACIDE®’s activated solution remains effective for 15 days when properly stored.

Methicilin-Resistant S. Aureus (MRSA) is one of the scariest and most dangerous of the community-associated (CA) microorganisms. The CA-MRSA infection generally starts out as a skin infection and has the appearance of small pimple-like bumps, or spider bites. Once these signs appear, the bumps will rapidly become larger and boil-like, as well as very painful. MRSA is resistant to the antibiotics created by pharmaceutical companies, therefore; it is a life-threatening infection which can cause death. CA-MRSA is spread through contact with the infected skin. Schools can be a veritable breeding ground for dangerous microorganisms like MRSA. The best way to ensure the health of the students and staff is to routinely disinfect hard surfaces with a disinfectant that is EPA registered for killing MRSA. Performacide® Hard Surface Disinfectant is a hospital grade disinfectant that kills MRSA and is registered for use in Schools, Colleges, School Buses, Day Care Centers, Gymnasiums, and Sick Rooms.

Proper Hygiene Helps Prevent MRSA Outbreaks in Schools

Keeping hands clean and free from germs can surely help to prevent MRSA in schools. Many schools have opted to have sinks installed outside of the lavatories so teachers can ensure children wash their hands. Of course, keeping hand sanitizer available also helps, as does sanitizing hard surfaces. Performacide® Hard Surface Disinfectant can be sprayed directly onto surfaces to kill the MRSA virus on Bathroom Surfaces, Desks, Drinking Fountains, Sports Equipment, and Wrestling Mats.

Hard Surface Sanitizing Prevents MRSA in Schools

Keeping a school clean is important for a host of reasons, however; not all cleaners kill dangerous microorganisms like MRSA, Norovirus, and Hepatitis, among others. When choosing an EPA registered disinfectant for use in schools it is important that not only it be EPA registered as effective against MRSA but also not leave any harmful residues on the surfaces that are treated. Performacide® Hard Surface Disinfectant can be applied with a mop, sprayer, and sponge and be left to air dry leaving no harmful residues. There are many wet mops available with microfiber heads that liquids can be applied to floors and wrestling maps and then allowed to air dry.

PERFORMACIDE® Hard Surface Disinfectant Can Prevent MRSA in Schools

MRSA is a very dangerous microorganism that can run rampant very quickly in a school or day care. PERFORMACIDE® Hard Surface Disinfectant kills a variety of microorganisms, including MRSA, Hepatitis, E-coli, Staph, Norovirus, Tuberculosis, and HIV-1. In order to keep staff and students safe, use PERFORMACIDE® Hard Surface Disinfectant as part of a comprehensive sanitation program.

The CDC and EPA have issued guidance, for hospital settings recommending the use of EPA registered hospital-grade disinfectants for surface disinfection to help prevent the spread of the Ebola virus. The guidelines are listed below.

The product meets the CDC criteria for disinfectant products with label claims for a non-enveloped virus;

The product is intended for use on hard, non-porous surfaces; and,

The product label use instructions for the non-enveloped virus or viruses should be followed.

At this time, the Agency is not allowing label claims related to antimicrobial product efficacy specifically against the Ebola virus since a scientifically available testing procedure with a surrogate has not been developed.